Some people have the "sport widow hypothesis," referring to relationships between athletes and their female partners that go downhill as the former gets more popular.
They believe one gets left behind when the other becomes more prominent in his field.
Being an athlete comes with so much pressure and distraction. It is a different world for someone who is married.
Mark Alan Logan's thesis presented at the Western Kentucky University Department of Psychology debunked the theory. His research found that "there is not a relationship between men's athletic identity and satisfaction in their romantic relationship."
If that sounds boring, there is no need to dig deep in Google Scholar. Some athletes who belong to the highest stratosphere make it look easy being an athlete and a husband.
They are good role models as sports personalities, and how they handle relationships could be a blueprint for how you should handle yours. These couples might also change how you view love and enjoy Valentine's Day.
Here are some superstars who married their childhood sweethearts and are still going strong.
1. Lebron James
NBA superstar Lebron James has the case to be called the sports' greatest of all time. He is now a billionaire, too. Amid all the success he has had, his partner was there for him throughout. Read more: Don Catlin and Anti-Doping — The Man Helped Achieve Parity as the Father of Drug TestingLebron and Savannah met in high school and became inseparable since then. They had their first child, Bronny, in 2005 and married in 2013. The Los Angeles Lakers star has always been vocal about his wife's sacrifices for the family as he performs his role as a basketball player. "For our family, no one has sacrificed more and more hard work to support this family more than you [Savannah] and I appreciate you for that, love you," he said during his speech at the ESPY awarding last year. More than 20 years later, the two remain free from distraction. There's not even a hint of James getting distracted by their relationship. In addition to his family's support, LeBron's influence extends into the world of sports betting, where his performances significantly impact sportsbook odds such as the FanDuel NBA Odds.
His remarkable skill and leadership on the court make the Lakers a team to watch and bet on, reflecting the confidence and trust fans and bettors place in his abilities. This aspect of LeBron's career highlights how his contributions to basketball go beyond mere statistics, affecting the betting landscape and underscoring his legacy in the sport.
Amid all the success he has had, his partner was there for him throughout.
Read more: Don Catlin and Anti-Doping - The Man Helped Achieve Parity as the Father of Drug Testing
Lebron and Savannah met in high school, and became inseparable since then. They had their first child, Bronny, in 2005 and married in 2013.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has always been vocal about his wife's sacrifices for the family as he performs his role as a basketball player.
"For our family, no one has sacrificed more and more hard work to support this family more than you [Savannah] and I appreciate you for that, love you," he said during his speech at the ESPY awarding last year.
More than 20 years later, the two remain free from distraction. There's not even a hint of James getting distracted by their relationship.
2. Lionel Messi
The World Cup winner's picture as a child with his wife, Antonella Roccuzzo, tugs at the heart of many sports fans because of its backstory.
The couple, now with three sons, had known each other since they were five years old. They hail from Rosario.
Their communication was cut off after that as Messi had to move out to play for the Barcelona youth team.
When he heard about the death of Antonela's best friend, he immediately flew back to console his childhood friend.
They became officially together when he was 17, leading from one thing to another, and now, they are a family with three bubbly kids.
With eight Ballon d'Or trophies, one World Cup, and multiple club titles, Messi remains smitten by his childhood crush.
3. Novak Djokovic
Another god in his sport, Djokovic is a testament that the sports widow hypothesis is null.
The Serbian, who owns the record for most number of Grand Slam titles, met his wife Jelena in high school. They first got together while attending a tennis event in their hometown.
Djokovic kept rising into a tennis superstar, but that did not deter Jelena from pursuing her career studying luxury brand management.
For her, it all goes down to effort.
"Airplanes were, at the time, something utterly out of our reach," she told People Magazine. "We contrived and devised these plans how to meet, how to make our relationship work."
They eventually got engaged in 2013 and married the next year. They have two kids.
4. Patrick Mahomes
Three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes is another case study on how to make relationships work even if you are at the top of your sports.
He is married to Brittany, who is also in the same field as him as a franchise owner. They first met in 2012 in high school in East Texas.
Since then, they became each other's support as they pursued separate careers.
They married in 2020 and now have one daughter and one son and continue to excel in what they do outside of their family.
5. Clayton Kershaw
Ellen Kershaw has seen it all with her husband, Clayton.
The Los Angeles Dodgers is recovering from an elbow injury, and his wife has been very supportive.
The two first met in high school and married in 2010 after seven years together. They currently have four children.
Ellen is now making a name for herself as a philanthropist.
Clayton said his consultation with his wife played a huge role in his re-signing with the Dodgers for two more years instead of moving back to Texas.
Related article: LeBron James Wife - Everything You Need to Know About the Universally Admired Savannah James
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